Back then, when they were young…

Charlotte and Juliet were alone in the garden. While they were discussing a lesson, a certain topic came up. It was about the relationship between the neighboring country and the Kingdom of Lymore.

“If I recall correctly, Lymore and the neighboring country used to have a poor relationship.”

“Why was that?”

“…Uhm, I don’t know.”

Juliet’s answer took Charlotte aback. As a member of the Lymore royal family, how could Juliet not know the reason?

The late king and his predecessor had been blinded by their arrogance, thinking that the Lymore royal family should reign over the world, that they were inherently deserving of all the honor, wealth, and power, while the rest of the world existed solely to serve them.

Thus, they indulged in luxury and waged wars on neighboring country to prevent their invasion. After suffering from defeat, they began to turn on their closest vassals and aides. Many lost their lives in the aftermath of the breakdown.

By ‘neighboring country,’ they were referring to the Ferelden Empire, a suzerain powerful enough to subjugate all other countries. Seeking the empire’s abundant resources and the honor of victory over a great power, the former king specifically waged war against the empire.

He was a tyrant who held no regard for his people.

The ramification of the war lasted for two generations, and the country was in shambles.

As luck would have it, Frederick didn’t inherit their ideology. Frederick put an end to his father, the tyrant, and his regime, ultimately saving the country and its people. After ascending the throne, Frederick focused on improving relations with other countries and actively provided support to the people.

Thus, the king was hailed as a hero.

A story that even small children knew in this country—

—And yet…

“You don’t even know that…?”

At the age of seven, Charlotte was made to memorize everything thoroughly to the point that she could explain every little detail. She was taught of the atrocities of her predecessors, what went wrong, and how the royal family should behave.

Due to their young age, they had few opportunities to appear in public. Regardless, there was no guarantee that they’d only interact with aristocrats from their own country. What would they do if someone from another country suddenly initiated a conversation with them?

No matter how young she was, she would be disgracing herself if she lacked common courtesy and basic knowledge required of royalty. If anything, it would only expose her ignorance, sully the name of the royal family, and ultimately tarnish the reputation of the kingdom. Once that happened, their vassals and the people would turn their backs on them.

Charlotte had been taught that for a long time.

So, how could it be different with her sister, Juliet? Did Juliet get more leeway for being 8 years old?

As a member of the royal family in question, Juliet should be made aware of the history of foolish their predecessors tyrannical reigns, more so considering how recent those events were.

“I’m sorry…”

As Charlotte stared at her sister in disbelief, tears overflowed from Juliet’s round eyes, rolling down her cheeks.

Crying won’t solve anything?

Obviously, rather than crying, Juliet should strive to study hard and fill the gaps in her knowledge.

But when Charlotte was about to give at most obvious piece of advice, a cry full of worry and panic resounded.

“—Your Highness Juliet!”

Her fiancé, Quentin, rushed in to step between them, shielding Juliet behind his back.

“What do you think you are doing!?”

Charlotte was shocked by the ferocity of his gaze. He acted as if she had harmed Juliet.

Seeing that Juliet was in tears, perhaps he misunderstood something. But how could he blame Charlotte without hearing about the situation first? Wasn’t he aware that Juliet was prone to crying over the slightest things?

“I just didn’t expect that, even though she is eight years old, she still doesn’t know about the relationship between our country and our neighboring countries. I have to wonder, what is her tutor doing?”

“You do know that Her Highness Juliet is weak, right?”

“Even if she is sick, it’s not like she’s bedridden every day. She could’ve read and studied indoors? And yet, she doesn’t even know the history of our predecessors, let alone the delicate relationship we still have with our neighboring countries.”

As a member of the royal family of Lymore, for someone her age not to understand such was preposterous. It was common sense and general history. Being a child shouldn’t excuse such behavior?

The Ferelden Empire could take offense to such, thinking that they were being looked down upon. Moreover, it gave the impression that hostile intentions were still being harbored, and yet…

“Your Highness the Crown Princess, Her Highness Juliet is different from you. Just because you can do it yourself, doesn’t mean she can. Please stop imposing your ideals on Her Highness Juliet.”

Quentin cast a stern look on Charlotte and coldly rebuked her.

Charlotte clutched the hem of her skirt tightly on reflex. However, Quentin, who immediately began to coax Juliet, didn’t notice it.

I’m also different from my father…

Charlotte always had to suffer from having unreasonable ideals imposed on her—something that Juliet didn’t have to.

‘Something like this shouldn’t be any trouble for the crown princess.’

‘As His Majesty’s daughter, this should be nothing for you, right?’

‘His Majesty managed to comprehend everything when he was only six. During the previous king’s reign, his tutor fed him false, biased history. However, he did not take it at face value. He was able to see through the mistakes of our country and, by extension, the previous kings. Your Highness is already seven years old. There’s no way you can’t do it.’

She could recall everything word for word because her tutor said repeated it over and over again.

Her mother had passed away. Her father, who loved her mother dearly, had announced early on that he had no intention of taking a new queen. Thus, his eldest child, Charlotte, became his only heir. It had been decided even before Charlotte officially became the duchess.

As the first princess and the future ruler, she was subjected to the strictest education. All of her tutors were whip-crackers, and she was allowed very little breathing room.

Even though Charlotte was no Frederick, she was always expected to be on par with her father in everything.

—Her father, who was touted as a prodigy.

…And yet, everyone always praised Juliet for everything and excused her for anything.

Nobody ever sides with me like that.

Quentin held Juliet’s hand, gently supporting her back. Her younger sister, for whom such was normal, felt like a completely different breed than her.

An indescribable fear spread within her chest.

Are Juliet and I that different…?

She often had that question.

Juliet was also a princess of the Kingdom of Lymore. Although the responsibilities and roles of the crown princess differed from those of a second princess, both were daughters of the king and direct descendants of the royal family.

If something were to befall Charlotte, the position of crown princess would fall to Juliet. Therefore, even if Juliet were in poor health, being overly lenient to her would only come back to haunt them down the road.

It was so obvious; she kept coming to the same conclusion every time.

Then why weren’t the royal family and those close to them taking this seriously? How could they be so blind?

Charlotte couldn’t understand at all.

“What is happening here?”

Suddenly, a low voice echoed. The one who appeared was her father, King Frederick, and his escorts standing a bit behind him.

When Frederick noticed that Juliet was crying, his eyebrows furrowed.

“What did you do?” Her father snarled.

Before Charlotte could open her mouth, Quentin already spoke. It was obvious what would happen next.

Even if Charlotte had told him the truth, the result would’ve been the same.

“You are older, how could you bully your sister?”

All of Frederick’s anger was directed at Charlotte when all she had done was simply point out her sister’s incompetence.

“I didn’t bully—”

“—Even if that wasn’t your intention, those on the receiving end and their surroundings won’t necessarily feel the same. As a princess, you should stop being narrowminded.”

You are the one whose narrowminded, not me!

Despite thinking that, she felt as if she were the one in the wrong.

Charlotte felt as if she didn’t belong there.

“In case it’s not obvious, you and Julie are different.”

‘In case it’s not obvious.’ Said the man who always expected Charlotte to be a perfect princess.

Then, are you saying that we’re the same, Father?

—There’s no way that’s true.

Without sensing any contradiction in his own statements and perception, Frederick comforted Juliet.

Juliet sighed in relief at the sight of her doting father. She wiped her tears as a smile made its way to her face again.

It was a heartwarming scene of a caring family, except that Charlotte wasn’t part of it.

Are you the only one who’s different?

Did being the crown princess mean she wasn’t allowed even a sliver of warmth from her family?

Despite also being a princess, Juliet was loved, cherished, pampered, and protected so much.

Was the difference in treatment because Charlotte was a successor?

Since Juliet was sickly, much like their mother who died young, should Juliet just enjoy her privileged life without fulfilling her duties as a princess?

Because Charlotte was healthy, because she was the successor, because she resembled her genius of a father, Charlotte had to be perfect—regardless of her own well-being.

Now, she didn’t only have to fulfil the responsibilities of the crown princess, but also fill in the role of the princess, which her sister had abandoned, all by herself.

“Come on, Julie. It’s snack time. Let’s relax on the balcony today.”

“Is father coming as well?”

“Yes, I especially made time for you.”

“What about sister?”

“Charlotte is scheduled to have a dance lesson soon.”

Frederick returned to the royal castle with Juliet who was concerned about Charlotte. Quentin also went home, not wanting to disturb the family time, leaving Charlotte behind.

Technically, she had an escort a little further away, but she was definitely alone.

Father has never looked at me with such a gentle expression.

Charlotte couldn’t forget Frederick’s expression as he spoke with Juliet.

Perhaps, the same expression had been directed at way when she was still little—when her mother was still alive.

However, Charlotte had no recollection of it. All she could recall was the current expression that Frederick never failed to show her.

Charlotte didn’t have the time to enjoy a leisurely cup of tea with anyone. She was told by none other than Frederick that she should prepare for class if she had such free time.

When she handed Frederick a handkerchief embroidered with the royal family crest—her best attempt in her embroidery class, he turned it down with a single line.

“Not good enough.”

However, Frederick always made sure to carry the handkerchief with unremarkable flower motif that Juliet gave him on the side.

I’m not his daughter.

Juliet was his one and only daughter. To Frederick, Charlotte was only ‘the princess.’ Charlotte was nothing more than a handy tool to impose as much responsibility on as possible, and at the same time, to relieve Juliet of as much burden as possible.

Other than being an heir, I’m worthless.

Suddenly, she pursed her lips and trembled.

If I’m a kind older sister, if I’m an excellent heir, will Father treat me with a bit more kindness?

Will I be accepted as his daughter, or at least a member of the family?

Would there be a day when Charlotte was treated like Juliet?

---

***T/N: Oh get over yourself will you, Quentin!? In fact why don’t you just submit an application to her dad to be Juliet’s live-in nanny? That way you can wait on her hand and foot and kiss her ass all you want!! Wear a skirt while at it, you good for nothing buffoon!

Charlotte, it’s all right! Everyone here in Faux have seen how hard you have worked! You don’t need to change for anyone! You are fine as you are! Anyone else who dare to say otherwise can meet my fist! Your father included!

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